Redwood National and State Parks has slight buffer from shutdown

State picks up when federal workers are furloughed

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Redwood State and National Parks is not as affected by the shutdown as other national parks systems because the state oversees some aspects of upkeep, including keeping the park clean during the partial government shutdown. (DFM file)

While reports of overflowing trash cans and restrooms at national parks sweep across the nation, Redwood National and State Parks holds an edge over its trashed counterparts: it’s jointly managed by state and federal authorities.

That means while federal workers who would typically oversee park operations remain furloughed during the partial government shutdown, the California Department of Parks and Recreation is stepping in to keep the parks from degrading into what some have called “a free-for-all.”

Brett Silver, acting sector superintendent for the California Department of Parks and Recreation, said all of Redwood National and State Parks remains open to public access. Silver said, to the best of his knowledge, no trails have been closed as a result of the shutdown.

“It just shows that working together is a benefit to the public,” he said. “It shows our partnership can adapt easily. It could just as easily be us and they’d step in the same way.”

Silver said before the shutdown took effect, the California Department of Parks and Recreation agreed to fill in where furloughed federal workers couldn’t. But services at the park are still limited by the shutdown. Staffing for biologists, administrative members, repair workers and maintenance has been severely reduced or eliminated during the partial shutdown.

“They may not be at the quality people are used to,” he said. “But we’re doing the best we can to keep everything clean for the public.”

Despite the decrease in park staff, Silver said the parks are packed with people. The Jedediah Smith campground had 48 campers last night, and “Fern Canyon was full,” he said. Employees designated as “essential” remain on call, such as law enforcement, Silver said.

“Having to handle crowds without our partners is more of a burden,” he said. “We’re getting through it, but are hoping they can return from the shutdown soon.”

In terms of an end to the shutdown, Silver is uncertain how things will go.

In a Facebook post, North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman said that he was prepared to “hit the ground running” when Congress returns to Washington, D.C.

“In the coming days, we will bring up funding bills with bipartisan support that will re-open the government and challenge the president to choose between his ridiculous border wall and putting 800,000 federal employees back to work,” he said.

Congress reconvenes on Thursday with a new Democrat-controlled House of Representatives.

“My Democratic colleagues and I are ready to remind the White House that our democracy deserves better and we will fight to restore these core American values,” Huffman posted.